Female Fronted Gravity Well are a Stoner Rock/Psychedelic Doom Quartet based in Northern Ireland,they formed around 2019 and have been honing their craft and sound since,their excellent debut album Earthbound showed signs of the true essences and capability of what this band can reach,with their new single Delirium they've really advanced their sound to a whole new level and should be a taster of what's to come.
As Soon as that first note hits you know you're about to be taken on some sort of Psychedelic trip into the stratosphere, the repitive Guitar riff ,fuzzed out Bass and tribal rhythms of the drums slowly puts you into a trance while the ethereal and haunting vocals make you fell like you're floating through a dream-like sequences that you never want to end,if this really is a taste of what Gravity Well are brewing up for us,then we're in for a really special treat,definitely keep a close watch on these in 2024
After an almost 20 year hiatus the absolutely brilliant Black Metal project Chambercraft has come back from the deepest darkest abyss to unleash some atmospheric misanthropic anthems in the meantime for the first time ever the 2004 demo Delrium is available online for your listen displeasure lets dissect this stellar piece of art.
Opening track Full Moon Suicide has a very thrashy aura to it a full on face melting riff fest with grim and nasty vocals ,bit like a mix of Slayer and early Immortal, the proper way to unleash this quality release, The atmosphere gets a little more darker with the Doom Laden and Misanthropic Escapades of Poisoned and Bleeding To Death there's nice subtle Darkthrone-espue elements running thoughout this song,you're given the feeling the further into the track that a slow painful ,and torturous death is been endured, closing track The Throne Room pushes the atmospheric and misanthropic elements into a darker place ,this is my favourite track on the EP and reminds me of early Xasthur and Burzum,there's an eerily frosty aura to this track like you're lost in the wilderness in the depths of an icy and snowbound forest.
Twenty years later and this EP still sounds extremely relevant in todays realms of Black Metal,you can say it's all about nostalgia,maybe that's true but there's a new generation of bands and artist delving into the true essence of what Balck Metal has always been about,the search for individuality and spirituality,i look forward what Chambercraft have in store for us in 2024.
For a good few years there's being a severe lack of memorable Gothic Rock/Metal bands in the mould of 90's era Danzig or Type O Negative, so it was a pleasant surprise when i was contacted by Vocalist/Bassist Garth Kidd of the absolutely brilliant Devilsome about reviewing their self titled debut EP, it also came to my attention the band features the legend that is Joe McGuigan of the legendary Gama Bomb who has been a life long friend of Garth, fast forward a period of time and plenty of listen later here are the finer details of what you can come to expect from the band.
Straight away that groovy bass intro and the operatic vocals kick in on Children Of The Night you're instantly drawn into some catchy hooks,lyrically and musicially there's subtle homages to Type O Negative, this was a great choice to open proceedings with this particular track, 7th Seal is a really catchy number with all the nuances for a proper live anthem and a chorus you can sing along to,we're also treated to a tasty lead courtesy of Ex Cradle Of Filth Guitarist Richard Shaw and some absolutely qaulity keyboards from Kevy Canavan, who doesn't like some Sabbath-esque with the ultra Doomy spookiness of Morning Star this one gives you an idea of the power and range of Garth Kidd's Vocals which add a passion and emotion to the track,eventually we're taken into some killer mid paced riffage culminating in some killer lead guitar work which closes out the track, Necromantic Girl is filled with plenty of intermittent lead guitars and plemty of catchy hooks to keep your undivided attention,this is another one with a potential sing-a-long chorus.
Possibly the fastest track on the EP with the Thrashy/Punk influenced escapades of Charge Of The Neiphilim, this has a reall D-Beat Crossover feeling to it ,there's also a subtle hint at The Misfits prevelent within this song, the basslines and leads in this one are absolutely sublime giving another positive element to proceedings, the band treat us to a cool cover version of The Zombies track Time Of The Season there's an element all their own in this which shows a diversity and originality whjich shows the band are willing to attempt something different, the closing track The Witches Of Pendle Hill is the tale about one of the most famous witch trials in England that occured in the 17th Century,these accounts always make for an interesting listen and something that's worth immersing yourself in be it musically or lyrically, yet again the catchy hooks have become seriously addcituve at this point in the EP,,the mid paced tempo creates a somewhat melancholic atmosphere gradually building up to a faster tempo during the pre-chorus and chorus which add a more upbeat tempo to the track, this is a more then fitting way to close out the EP.
For a debut release this is way beyond my expectation and the more i've listened to it the better it's become,one or two listen will not suffice with this, yes there is some riffs and sections of songs throufghput this that you will have heard before but the application from the musicians invloved has achieved what it set out to do and that is create a few interesting and killer tales like any lover of all things horror would like to get through to the masses,this will appeal to fans of luminaries like The Misfits,Black Sabbath,90's Era Danzig,Type O Negative all done with Spooktacular aplomb,there's a dark romanticism prevelent throughout the EP were you get the feeling the monsters get to have their way which is something all genuine horror fans will enjoy,in ending this is one definitely worth a listen.
As promised here's the second and equally deranged half of the split EP Hey Kid,Wanna Buy A Split? from the sublime purveyors of Apocalyptic Industrial Metal Overlords Organ Blender "You Will Surrender To The Blender".
It's being just a little over a year since they released the absolute masterpiece that is Teemu Khan, also the unfortunate circumstance of losing their drummer has more or less put live performances on hold for the forseeable future,fret not we are going to be treated to some deliciously apocalyptic tunes in a few days with some killer new music, opening track Geronimo! has some of that trademark unnervingly dark atmosphere with subtle hints of dark humour running throughout also as can be expected we're treated to some heavy as fuck riffage and deranged vocal delivery, riffs combined with disturbing industrial passages are prevelent throughout Drugz this gives another dimension to proceedings and creates a somewhat hypnotic repitition, this maybe unbeknownst to most but the band are avid fans of Aphex Twin which leads us to the closing track Satellite whic combines techno beats and extremely dark synths and keys.
Although quiet short in length they achieve a really dark atmosphere with pinpoint precision,those familiar with Organ Blender will enjoy these three tracks; Basically this is a continuation of what was offered up on Teemu Khan ,they've more then contributed to this brilliant split and it compliments what Aborted Earth have offered up creating a Union straight from the Apocalyptic Wasteland.
I always like when someone contatcs me to do reviews was absolutely over the moon when Aborted Earth vocalist Jamie asked me would i be interested in doing so for their absolutely devastating new Split EP Hey Kid,Wanna Buy a Split? they're about to release with the equally apocalyptic sounding Organ Blender suffice to say i'll be doing a seperate review for their part of this release.
I've being paying close attention to this band for a few years now and they've evolved their sound by adding extra facets with each release and now on this it seems they have come fulll circle with devastating consequences, straight off we're treated to some relentlessly uncomfortable passages with Conspiracy to Kill the repitition throughout this track really creates a sense of a dark and prevelent impending doom with no means of escape whatsoever, Coolock Bodybagis executed with an extremely visceral vocal delivery combined with relentless pace for the opening 2 minutes of the track at which point they launch into some Sludgy and Apocalyptic sequences similar to early Godflesh,something that should be mentioned this also has some element of social strife,societal problem(referenced in the soing title,if you know you know otherwise i'm not explaining), Closing track Vicious Circle combines every element the band have been adding to their repetoire throughout the years and their arsenal has all the recipes to create an absolutely obliterating apocalyptic soundtrack.
As mentioned earlier the advancemenst this band has made in the last few years is mind blowing,from a straight-up crazy Grindcore band with some tongue in cheek dark humour(it's still there) to adding Industrial Metal elements akin to Godflesh or Scorn which in turn adds a really scarey apocalyptic atmosphere to their sound,with Hey Kid,Wanna Buy A Split long term fans of the band are going to absolutely love what's on offer here.
The brilliant Wexford based Heavy/Thrash Metal Stalwarts 12 Gauge Outrage have been cutting their trade for the best part of a decade with each release they've developed and honed their sound into something with an ode to the old school and something refreshing and modern, this is prevelent and noticable on their absolutely fantstic new EP Siren lets get into the finer details of this brilliant release.
straight away you can hear the absolute razor sharp production,the atmosphere at the start of Control is extremely foreboding and dark the combination of the heavy riffing and twin vocal harmonies add a taut and concise element to the track, To Shreds is straight up 80's Thrash Metal that's an absolute ripping track can picture plenty of moshing and crowd surfing for this in a live enviroment, half way through and we're treated to some 90's Metallica-esque riffing with the brilliant My Ever Sleep the mind paced tempo makes this one a real fist thumper and bonafide headbanger.
The Hanged Man is a real slow burner full of groove,heaviness and riffs for days,at times it sounds like the band have channelled the inner ghost of Dimebag Darrell and combined it with ...And Justice For all era guitar tones and epicness, final track I See The Light is another quality headbanger full of groove laden hooks and stellar vocal arrangements giving the EP a somewhat dramatic and epic ending.
At the end of the day 12 Gauge Outrage display their full arsenal of tricks ,even if you've never heard them before straight away you'll know they've being crafting and honing their sound for many years, on another note this band have the experience and longevity to keep getting better with each release,Siren has everything any true metalhead should enjoy,memorable tracks full of groove heaviness,ripping speed and all the nuances to make a great release and long may it continue.
Let This serve as a bit introduction/recommendation piece and a short analogy from the excellent One Man Deathcore/Brutal Death Metal Project Sickened,unbeknowst to a lot of people within the Irish Scene there's something special about to explode from the county of Wexford with a few artist/bands working dilligently and under the radar included is the aforementioned Sickened who recently released their debut S/T EP.
Although it is noticable that there's a rawness and a lo-fi approach to the production there is a certain charm to it albeit with a lethal dose of Brutality and Heaviness,the Intro is a quick instrumental track designed to create an atmosphere of what's to come, We Are Not The First plenty of crushing grooves with some lo-fi vocals that at times remind me of Viral Load or Putrid Pile, Fucked Up is possibly my favourite track on this release it's filled with crushing and visceral riffage combined with some guest vocals courtesy of Kris of Dead Memories, with better all round production the tecnicality would be alot more noticable on this track.
Infernal Feast continues with some fantastic technical ability,there's also a larger amount of Groove prevelent throughout this one which adds another positive element to the overall product, final track You Got Nothing From It was one of the first tracks to be released by this project and suffice to say is an absolute banger,visceral and crushing riffage combined with the lo-fi vocals give this a brutality and sickness that is so addictive to listen to.
Overall there's plenty of potential on offer with this project,yes the production may not be to everyone's liking but hell the musicianship,technical ability and amount of work put in deserves to be lauded and praised to the hilt, this is a really enjoyable and worthwhile listen and with further releases this project will definitely improve.
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